Concacaf has officially announced the participating clubs and draw procedures for the 2026 Champions Cup. A total of 27 clubs will compete in this year’s tournament. The event, which takes place tomorrow, December 9, will be streamed live on Concacaf’s YouTube channel.
Key Details of the 2026 Champions Cup Draw
The draw will feature pre-ranked clubs determined by the Concacaf Club Ranking. In total, eight clubs will be pre-ranked for the first two rounds of this knockout tournament. The live draw will take place in Miami, Florida, hosted by Vanessa Huppenkothen, Alexi Lalas, and Mariah Ramharack. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani and former professional players Brad Guzan and Pavel Pardo will also participate in the event.
Notable Teams Participating
The upcoming Champions Cup will showcase prominent teams from the region. Among them are:
- Club América (Mexico)
- CF Monterrey (Mexico)
- Cruz Azul (current champion)
- Inter Miami CF (MLS Cup champion)
- San Diego FC (MLS debutant)
- LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
- Club Olimpia (Honduras)
- Mount Pleasant FA (Jamaica)
- O&M FC (Dominican Republic)
Champions Cup Format
The tournament follows a direct elimination format, comprising five rounds: First Round, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. The initial four rounds will be played as home-and-away matches, while the final will be a single match to determine the regional champion.
Of the 27 clubs involved, 22 will begin in the First Round, and five will progress directly to the Round of 16. The tournament kicks off in early February, with the Final scheduled for Saturday, May 30.
Qualification Breakdown
Clubs qualified through various regional cups and domestic leagues. Here’s a list of the participating clubs by their qualifying tournament:
| Tournament | Club(s) |
|---|---|
| Canadian Championship | Vancouver FC (CAN) |
| Caribbean Cup | Defence Force FC (TRI), O&M FC (DOM), Mount Pleasant FA (JAM) |
| Central American Cup | Club Olimpia (HON), CSD Xelajú (GUA), CS Cartaginés (CRC), LD Alajuelense (CRC), Real CD España (HON), Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) |
| Leagues Cup | LA Galaxy (USA), Seattle Sounders FC (USA) |
| Liga MX | CF Monterrey, Club América, Cruz Azul, Deportivo Toluca, Pumas UNAM, Tigres UANL |
| MLS | FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, Los Angeles FC, Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Canadian Premier League | Atlético Ottawa, Forge FC |
| U.S. Open Cup | Nashville SC |
Pre-ranked Teams Overview
Five clubs receive byes into the Round of 16 based on their performance:
- Deportivo Toluca FC
- Inter Miami CF
- Seattle Sounders FC
- LD Alajuelense
- Mount Pleasant FA
The draw promises an exciting kickoff to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Fans can tune in through the official Concacaf YouTube channel and their social media platforms for live updates and coverage.
